I have my daughter's birthday and my own birthday...and do you know what I have planned for my birthday? I am so excited! I have asked the CAV's (Veteran Motorcycle Group, which is huge) if I could join them, and ride on the back of one of their motorcycles (even though I have my own GM (motorcycle) license;

WHY? you might be asking...

They are making a ride for Mental Illness across some of our towns on, what better day, but my birthday (August 14th) to join them and hop on the back of one of their motorcycles. When I found out about their ride for the cause...I was stoked!

There is no better cause I could be involved in; 2 men in my immediate neighbourhood took their lives last year to the disease and I, myself, suffer from a mental illness.

So, along with my fantastic month of beach time and birthdays, I am hoping to be zoom zooming as part of this most worthy cause, to spread the word that Mental Illness is NOT something to hide in the closet with, but rather something that CAN be talked about openly and freely. We are good, loving, worthy of love people. We are creative, intelligent and "NORMAL!"

In fact, it is the talking, and the COMMUNICATION about one's disorder that saves lives! It is how one comes to embrace their mental illness, in the same way one would embrace their diabetic illness, their cancer or their need to be in a wheelchair. I know that communication saved me...openness saved me...self love and love from others saved me...and of course GOD and....TA DA - MY ART!!! (who could forget that!!!!)

HAPPY AUGUST EVERYONE...IF YOU HAVE A BEACH NEAR YOU...TRY TO FREQUENT IT'S HEALING PROPERTIES! NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE SAND AND WATER (AND GOD OF COURSE) TO KEEP BALANCE IN ONE'S LIFE.

See you, in September...(I feel like I should be singing that song to you!)

Today, I would say so! I am happy, exhilarated, tickled pink (ahhhh pink) by the new type of exercise I just started.

Bee-see-klette! OK, bicycle. I actually went out and purchased a zippy bike! And am I ever glad I did. WOW...now to most people this is likely an average purchase, but to this person, who makes their cards for/because/inspired by/doesn't sell their cards...money runs low...and I put out for this cool blue 2 wheeler. But more cool is this "hat!" I guess the really COOL people call it a "helmet!" lol... It squishes all my curls into one big mop!!! I LOVE how it feels...this is one great big sensory experience. Yipee Doodle...doesn't take much to please me!!!

So today's card is dedicated to CHILLAXING! You will understand when you see the card, thanks to Taylored Expressions.

Happy cycling everyone!!! But make sure the lemonade is ready after you have endured all that passion that comes from new-found exercise!

This past weekend I saw vibrant colors coming from around me, in the shapes of HOPE, LOVE, SPIRIT, DETERMINATION, WISDOM, PRESENCE, TOGETHERNESS, STRENGTH....to name just a few.

These, in my mind...are the colors of the rainbow! It is what comes to mind, when I see a rainbow, when I feel the rainbow's power penetrate straight into my heart. This is what I experienced at my first visit at a new Church in town...well, new to me.

MUSIC, SWAYING (at least I was,) SINGING, AND A BAND that had such joy boosting from them. Tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. I felt more prayerful than I had in a very long time...and I learned more from the PASTOR'S VOICE THAN I BELIEVE I DID IN MY MASTER'S IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES! His SERMON hit home...had he been eavesdropping on my heart, inside my head, and spending time with some type of super duper secret Sam Detective Microscope on Little Samara's Life?

Well, I can only imagine many, and I might even wage all people in the seats feel the way I do...as there wasn't a seat to be had 10 minutes before service time!

Today, as I was driving from my Boyfriend's House, who himself was with the Military for 28 years, toward my house where I travel under many overpasses,I could not help but be filled with tears in my eyes.

Every bridge was LINED WITH CANADIAN FLAGS waiting for the FALLEN SOLDIERS that will be transported to Toronto.

One's heart is torn apart with each flag that waves in the wind, yet we feel, we believe, we hurt, with each ambulance that has stopped on the bridge with huge Canadian Flags on the back of their vehicles, Police Cars, Fire Trucks with Canadian Flags and Flashing lights, all reaching out in respect of OUR BRAVE.

But what startles me each time, is the comradery I feel to each and every one I see on those bridges - in this town...and in all towns I imagine...as the fallen soldier is "TAKEN HOME."

People wait out in the heat, flags in hand, cars are parked on the on ramps, the off ramps and each individual stands "on guard" with their flag...

WE CARE, WE LOVE YOU, WE BELIEVE IN YOU, WE HONOR YOU, WE STAND TOGETHER...and we always will...FOR YOU.

Today, I know that GRATITUDE is fully in place within me. I looked around me and saw how incredibly fortunate I am. I looked outside of me and saw how incredibly fortunate other's are in my town, I looked at my garden, and saw the devas growing, the birds singing, my dogs playing, my son and his friend laughing and playing their games and KNOW that GOD is all around us. WE ARE BLESSED!

BY "WE" I mean all of us....you, me, and all the others!

GOD HAS A PLAN...and we have only to do our part. We have to feel our feelings, to be true to ourselves, to tell ourselves the truth. There is no one I know better who has done this than Ann Schach, who has the most wonderful blog...you MUST check it out. SHE IS A MASTER.

When her dog (GOD BACKWARDS IF YOU NOTICE) passed over to the next room, Ann was about the most honest person I know on her blog. She allowed us to grieve with her. She shared her grief. She didn't hold it away from us. She invited us in to her life, to her world, to her Missy. Now this is REAL...and this is what I pray for the world. That WE CAN ALL BE LIKE ANN, IN OUR OWN WAY!

Today, I attempt to KEEP IT REAL! Having said that, I want to tell you that each and every day, I worry about my Jordan (25) over in Spain for a month. My children, as you know, are world travellers. I try to play it cool about this and just tell you where they are, and celebrate that...but inside I go crazy! Maybe it is time I let you know this!!! Their mommy worries so...

I MUST WALK AGAIN THE WOODEN PATH

I must walk again the wooden path;I must stroll the country landWhere sunsets fall like summer plumsand stardust falls like rain.

I must chase again the fireflyon the honeysuckle vine.And watch an eagle spread its wingsabove the tallest pine.

I must see once more a hummingbirdwhere hollyhocks grow wild.And run barefoot through Autumn leaveslike I did as a child.

I must stand atop a mountainwhen the valley's white with snow.And linger there till purple hazespreads twilight far below.

I must do these things lest I forgethow precious life can be.I must walk again the wooded pathof quaint simplicity.

CLAY HARRISON

I was reminded by a reading this morning to not "sweat the small stuff" and to "let go of that which I have no control over". Doesn't GOD tell us this all throughout the New Testament? We all need someone to remind us who we are. Do you have that someone?

....STAMP-N-DOODLES monthly DIGIS of Africa still seems to rule my art, though I have some pieces in between that I will begin to show tomorrow.

For today though, I will finish up the Africa series.

THE WORLD WE MAKEWe make the world in which we liveBy what we gather and what we give,By our daily deeds and the things we say,By what we keep or wwe cast away.

We make our world by the beauty we seeIn a skylark's song or a lilac tree,In a butterfly's wing, in the pale moon's rise,And the wonder that lingers in midnight skies.

We make our world by the life we lead,By the friends we have, by the books we read,By the pity we show in the hour of care,By the loads we lift and the love we share.

We make our world by the goals we pursue,by the heights we seek and the higher view,By hopes and dreams that reach the sunAnd a will to fight till the heights are won.

What is the place in which we dwell,A hut or a palace, a heaven or hell,We gather and scatter, we take and we give,We make our world - and there we live.

ALFRED GRANT WALTON(1998-1970)

This poem means alot to me this week, as it has been a difficult week, and a week of pain for me, having lost a person in my life that was precious. I realize, like the cross, like Jesus, there is anger, there is "WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME GOD" and on the flip side (like the coin) there is EXTREME LOVE to be found.

I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by friends and by loved ones during this time of pain, to be reminded who I am, to reflect on how important it is to "be the Samara that is gregacious and loving, prayerful and puts everything in God's hands", even the things that I love the most and as well the things that hurt the most.

And this is what I have done. I gave God my anger (like the Psalms of David) because I know God can handle anger, and God returned to me LOVE. The love that my friends have been trying to remind me that I always try to bring into other people's hearts.

So this day, this very day, I am so thankful to many people - to the MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE - for reminding me who I am...a much better person than I believed I was this past week. And that it is quite possible to move forward with excitement for the future, in wholeness and serenity, even when loss occurs.

I do believe in giving credit where credit is due! Jesus and Moses taught me so....

Without a doubt, these are the digis I have enjoyed the most from Stamp-n-Doodle. I found myself getting literally lost in the "jungle" whilst making and creating the ART for the DIGI IMAGE that Lynne creates.What do you think?

I was enjoying this 39 degree temperature with my Oldest Son Jordan, in Toronto yesterday. He just returned from Israel and Egypt after a month, so we had lots to catch up on, and he is off to Spain for a month's music workshop tomorrow, then school again for his MA in a far away town.

Can you hear me sniffing!!!

All of that was a seque to tell you why I didn't post your INDEPENCE DAY CARDS, THAT YOU MOST TRULY DESERVED TO RECEIVE!

I wish you, I wish your country, and I wish your leaders only the best of love, direction and wisdom in the coming year.